Another year, another Latin titled EP, another stab at ritualistic melodic black metal by Quebecois Deletere. Strangely how I miss full length releases by this band, yet their EPs always seem to land on my desk. Theovorator : Babelis Testamentum may be starting a new chapter in Deletere discography, yet it doesn’t announce change in the band’s approach to musical expression.

Theovoratoris Aduentus may open with a quick keyboard oriented religious setup, and some synths make appearance in the slower middle section later, but it is guitars, flowing alternatively to double bass or blasting, that carry the compositions on the EP. Deletere may slow down and philosophically contemplate things from time to time, but trademark fast melodic tremolos embedded into otherwise fuzzy fabric dominate over slower hosannas (Milites Pestilentiae III – Babylonia Magnissima). At times melodic chord progression may even be described as poppy and melodeath (Babel Insanifusor), but double bass thunders the compositions towards more extreme end. Booming bottom contrasts with almost shrill top lines ((Milites Pestilentiae III – Babylonia Magnissima), and altogether the EP achieves what it sets out to do, a full immersion into spiritual side of things. The subject matter of the EP – the survival of Babel, construction of the Tower and Babylon, and the beginning of Theovoration, consummation of God – is a deep topic and the EP follows suit musically. Floating above the fray, soaring feeling that I often get listening to Quebec black metal scene is ever present on Theovorator and Deletere does an excellent job distilling melodicism and raw emotions into powerful succinct package.